From GG’s Personal Journal

Remembering to Breathe

Ah, 2008 – not my favorite year. And maybe not yours, either. I don’t have to explain – just look at your portfolios. We all learned the meaning of plummet. But it’s not just the economic downturn that robs us of sleep, it’s world unrest, war, terrorism, man’s inhumanity and his cavalier treatment of our planet. I could go on, but enough gloom.

All this underscores how essential it is to lessen our burdens by finding pleasure in simple things. Life is short.

Several months ago at yoga class, I ran into an old friend. During our conversation, she said, "As we get older, we need to learn to take pleasure in small things."

Good advice. This year, I’ll try to incorporate not only a simple pleasure into each day, but also an act of kindness – a good deed for someone who does not expect it. A small step? Yes, but if everyone adopted a similar policy, think what a difference it could make.

As for simple pleasures, fresh flowers make me happy. Whether I pick them from my garden or the grocery store’s floral section, they add cheer. Right now, a scarlet amaryllis occupies center stage on our kitchen table. I like to think of it as a metaphor for the past year. Only two months ago, I plunked down $10 for a pot of dirt and shriveled bulb. Then I watched it emerge from bleak to glorious in short order.

Many people find gardening a pleasure – and productive at that. My daughter Marianne transforms her Colorado backyard into a lush garden each summer. She grows tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, squash, onions, beans, okra, watermelons, pumpkins and more. And she shares her bounty with the neighborhood.

I find it supremely satisfying to step outside on my deck and pick basil to make pesto or oregano and tomatoes for a Greek salad or lemon mint to garnish a fresh fruit compote.

Taking a tea break in the late afternoon certainly makes the cut. Slowing down, sipping hot tea rejuvenates you. While on a British-led dig in Scotland, I learned just how seriously the Brits take their tea ritual. "Tea time can be any time as long as it’s 4:00 o’clock said our intrepid leader, the author of several pithy tomes on archaeology. He stopped all operations promptly for our daily break, and we returned to work with renewed vigor.

"My simple pleasure is to sit in my great room with a fire going and read or watch winter birds out the bank of windows overlooking my backyard," said Alice, my writer/friend. She likes to sip hot chocolate while her cat Shadow sits on her lap. "Shadow's head pops up, and she salivates as each blue jay or cardinal struts across the backyard scratching for seeds. It's very restful, and the bare winter sky and cold weather seem distant as I'm so warm and cozy."

Alice’s husband Joe immerses himself in classical music piped through his surround- sound system. "Then the vibes of patriotic and march music follow," she added. "He's in an office chair with a neck pillow, leaning back and relaxing with his feet on his desk."

Other options? Take in an arts and crafts show. Listen to the rain. Go for a walk in the park with the kids or the grands, and don’t forget bread for the geese and/or ducks.

In yoga class, we often hear, "Remember to breathe." And it’s a timely reminder during a difficult pose (or year) when we tend to hold our collective breath.

So as you move through 2009, pepper it with small pleasures. Put a premium on comfort and serenity. Celebrate life every day. Oh, and remember to breathe.